Progress sans tech education impossible: CM

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that future of Pakistan is linked to promotion of technical education. He said that youth will have to be equipped with technical education for moving speedily towards destiny of progress and prosperity.

The chief minister said that preparation of skilled work force is need of the hour for meeting the needs of industry. He said that an agreement has been signed with Pakistan Air Force for the training of teachers of Tevta, under which, Air Force instructors have trained first batch of 500 Tevta teachers.

He said that collaboration of Punjab government and Pakistan Air Force augers well in the training of teachers and promotion of technical education. He said that political and military leadership and all sections of society have to work jointly for achieving the goal of progress and prosperity by steering the country out of difficulties and programme of training of Tevta teachers with the help of Air Force reflects this collaboration.

The chief minister said majority of Pakistani people is of youth who are being equipped with modern knowledge with a view to use their energies and capabilities for development of the country.

He said that exports can be increased through improving the standard of our products. He said that problems of poverty and unemployment can be controlled through promotion of technical education.

Shehbaz Sharif said that the country can be put on the road to progress and prosperity through promotion of technical education. He said that Pakistan was achieved after numerous sacrifices and it can be made a strong country through collective efforts.

He said that the dream of Quaid and Iqbal regarding welfare state has still not materialized which will have to be materialised. He said that if we pledge to change the destiny of Pakistan no force of the world can stop our way. The chief minister said that army especially Air Force extended great cooperation during flood of 2010.

The chief minister said that the role of Pak Army with regard to help of sisters and brethren and provision of relief to them can never be forgotten. He said that the chairman has revived Tevta. He said that if every institution is reactivated, Pakistan will emerge as a powerful country of the world.

He lauded Pakistan Air Force, Tevta chairman, Industries Department and other institutions for forwarding training programme of Tevta and ensured implementation of development strategy and vision of Punjab government.

Tevta Chairman Irfan Ahmed Sheikh highlighted training programmes of Tevta and said that training programme of Tevta teachers is reflective of the vision of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

He said that with the cooperation of national and international institutions, Tevta is providing modern training to its teachers and is determined to achieve the targets fixed under development strategy 2018 and added that target of making five lakh 18 thousand girls and boys skillful will be achieved by 2018.

He said that agreements have been made with 15 different industries for preparing skilled workforce according to industrial needs. He said that under agreement with Pakistan Air Force, Tevta has provided training to newly recruited 500 teachers and principals of Tevta for their capacity building.

Addressing the ceremony, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Saeed M Khan said that training of Tevta teachers is an important step of Punjab government regarding national development. He said that expressing confidence in Air Force, Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has provided an opportunity to it to take part in process of national construction for which he is thankful to him.

He said that Pakistan Air Force is ready to cooperate Tevta and Punjab govt for promotion of technical education in future as well.

The chief minister distributed certificates among teachers who completed their training while Chairman Tevta Irfan Ahmed Sheikh gave shields to Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and officers of Pakistan Air Force.